Forget the karats

If you really want to give a lasting gift to your loved ones, don’t think of diamonds. Think of GK, that’s for Gawad Kalinga and what Anna Balcells has started in Talisay City recently, that makes us all so proud of what a family can do to make a little paradise for our less privileged brothers and sisters.

I met Tony Meloto last year in the Philippine Tatler’s Ball where he was awarded as the Man of the Millennium for his work in giving homes for the homeless. I have attended his fund-raiser in La Salle some years ago, where I was impressed with his eloquence and sincerity in helping the poor families without a home in the Philippines.  Raising millions from successful Filipinos abroad and starting with his son-in-law who sold his luxury sports cars in order to build homes for the homeless. 

And now, a beautiful story from Anna Balcells, whom I voted as one of the top hostesses in Bacolod for the annual Philippine Tatler’s list last year in its Christmas issue.  Inspired by Tony Meloto’s quest in a TV interview, she had an epiphany of sorts when she attended the launch of Gawad Kalinga Ilonggo.  Without a clue, after Tony’s speech, he asked her to speak, and with tears flowing, she talked from her heart—how her father always said that the island of Negros and Talisay was his paradise on earth.  But his heart broke seeing so much poverty and how he wished he had the money to build everyone a decent home.

Being the mover that she is, Anna called her relatives in Barcelona and raised enough money to build the first 12 houses for the GK-Alberto Balcells Legacy Village in Talisay.  Even her uncle Santi’s secretary Ramon chipped in 500 Euros and wrote a letter to say that every centavo was sent with love for the Filipino people.  He told his children before he died that he wants them to continue building homes in the Philippines. Her niece, Mercedes Balcells in Boston offered to build a school in this site. Ten more homes were pledged from her Lacson relatives and friends from Manila, that brought a total of 22 homes to start this paradise of a village.  What made it more memorable was that the purchase of the land by the City of Talisay was co-sponsored by her brother Carlos Balcells when he was a member of the city’s Sangguniang Panglungsod.  She pledged to make another village, this time in honor of the Lacson family with the aid of the Kalipay Negrense Foundation.

But the story does not end with the Balcells family.  Luci Lizares pledged another village next door in honor of the Lizares family.  Our Women in Travel planted 100 langka trees to provide fruits and salads for the families of each village.  Now, isn’t that an inspiration for us Negrenses to start building more Gawad Kalinga communities?  Forget the diamonds, build homes!

EVENTS

This Friday, the Espinos Village 1 Homeowners’ Association presents Giselle Sanchez with the Full Flava Band at the Sugarland Hotel’s Ballroom starting 7 p.m.

Lydia M. Gaston’s School of Dance presents a ballet in 2 Acts based on Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream” on Saturday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m., USLS Coliseum.*